Change of Heart

 

I WISH I was making money off of this. Sadly, I am not.

I’m just going off of my dreams of a life-sized Sesshoumaru & Inuyasha acting out my perverted little fantasies. All I get is my own twisted satisfaction.

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THIS IS YAOI-INSCEST! IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS KIND OF THING, THEN DON’T READ IT. FLAMES WILL BE HAPPILY IGNORED.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR BOTH INUYASHA SERIES AND A MOVIE. ;)

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Well, still off the grid. Weak and sporadic internet. BUT I've had time to write. Hopefully I can get the next chapter posted quickly, but if I don't, please don't think I've given this up. It's FAR from over.



Your comments and reviews are so great. I can't tell you how much they mean to me.



I'll try to reply to them all today while I can be online.

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A/N: The pups are named finally! (Also…part of something Sesshoumaru says in this chapter is close to something I read a long time before. I loved it so much I remembered it, but unfortunately can’t remember where it came from. If you recognize it, let me know.)

And if any think there is too much sex, sorry. ;) Like my husband always says…what do you think people did before TV & the internet? XD

 

Chapter 31 – The Brightest Stars in the Sky

 

Sesshoumaru was awakened an hour later by Inuyasha in pain and in the grip of a nightmare.

“Sesshoumaru! Please! I don’t want to live without you! Without our children! No! Don’t make me stay here! Sesshou!” he cried out in his sleep as his hands reached out to grasp air. “My spine feels like it’s breaking!” he shrieked.

“Yasha! Wake up love! I’m right here!” he whispered loudly into his ear, trying to wake him up yet not startle him.

Inuyasha’s eyes flew open. “Sess-Sesshou?! Oh, fuck…sorry. I… Ouch…”

“You do not have to apologize,” Sesshoumaru quickly interrupted. “What is hurting you? Your spine? Why?”

Inuyasha turned to him and held Sesshoumaru’s shoulders tightly. “I’m not sure…it’s like my spine is trying to force itself from my body…it started when I woke up in Tenkai. But it’s not so bad now and it’s not important… Will you…. Please, show me this isn’t some dream I’ll wake up from? Show me you’re real Sesshou…” he begged.

“Yasha…you are certain you are alright?” Sesshoumaru whispered.

“Please… Make love to me, fill me and love me and show me you’re real,” Inuyasha finished.

“Gods, Yasha…you never have to ask,” Sesshoumaru whispered into a silken ear, then he proceeded to drag his tongue up the inner pink of that ear, ending with a sharp nip at the tip.

Inuyasha melted into his arms and cried out.

“Spread your legs, love. Open yourself to me,” Sesshoumaru purred.

Inuyasha moaned at the seductive command and eagerly did as he was asked.

Sesshoumaru devoured Inuyasha’s mouth as he reached for the oil. After liberally coating his fingers, he dragged those oiled fingers in circular patterns on Inuyasha’s skin.

First, he lightly teased his nipples, causing Inuyasha to arch his back into the sensation. Then going lower, traveling the lines of his defined abs, and finally dragging that oiled finger and claw over and around Inuyasha’s aching arousal.

“Sesshou! Ahhh….oh, please…more…” Inuyasha begged, thrusting his hips.

Sesshoumaru moved to lick and kiss his neck as that oiled finger dragged down further, until he was circling the tiny entrance he was aching to claim.

Inuyasha’s hips thrust up harder, trying to get Sesshoumaru to enter him, just as Sesshoumaru retracted his claw and did so; sliding in easily with that one finger.

“Oh! Yes, Sesshou! Mmmm….”

Sesshoumaru gently slid that one finger in and out, driving Inuyasha wild with the light friction where he wanted so much more. Inuyasha’s little whimpers and moans of desire were music to his ears.

Sesshoumaru then positioned his fangs above his Mating Mark on Inuyasha’s neck, and positioned three fingers at his entrance, knowing how much Inuyasha liked the slight sting of this kind of entry.

Wanting still to keep it gentle, he bit down firmly on his Mark, but drew no blood yet, as he gently but firmly thrust three fingers deep inside Inuyasha.

Inuyasha’s hips thrust up and his neck arched to give Sesshoumaru more access. “Yes! Oh, gods, Sesshou! Ahhh, yes…feels so good!”

“Mmmmmm, yes Yasha…you are so hot, so tight…I cannot wait to feel you surrounding me,” Sesshoumaru purred into his neck.

Inuyasha’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, yes, please Sesshou…don’t make me wait…please…I need to feel you inside me…your power filling me…please,” he begged.

Giving Inuyasha’s neck one last slow lick along his mark, he rose up from beside him. Kissing his way down his body, he moved to Inuyasha’s dripping arousal.

“I need to taste you, Little Mate,” Sesshoumaru growled, causing Inuyasha’s hips to thrust up from the bed as he cried out. The dual sensations of Sesshoumaru’s fingers thrusting gently in his passage and his growl vibrating over his skin was nearly too much.

“Sesshou!”

Licking him softly at first, he soon swallowed his cock down, and decided to try Inuyasha’s own trick: he swallowed around the sensitive head as he used his long tongue to swipe at the stripes at the base of Inuyasha’s shaft.

Inuyasha screamed his pleasure, his hips thrusting up and driving himself harder into Sesshoumaru’s mouth, just as Sesshoumaru’s fingers thrust hard into his prostate.

“Sesshou! Oh, fuck! Please….oh gods, please…I need you inside me so badly…now please!”

“Mmmmm…” Sesshoumaru hummed around Inuyasha’s cock as he pulled away, causing Inuyasha to cry out again.

“You beg me for that which I am dying for, Little Mate,” Sesshoumaru growled against the sensitive shaft as he withdrew his fingers from his body and positioned himself between Inuyasha’s legs.

As Sesshoumaru rose above him, Inuyasha held his eyes with his; then he reached up to hold Sesshoumaru’s face in his hands, gently stroking the stripes on his cheeks. “I love you Sesshou. Take me, dominate me; show me in every way you can that I’m still alive and that I belong to you again, please,” he begged softly.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes widened, and then half-closed with the desire and love he felt. He rubbed the head of his arousal against Inuyasha’s prepared opening, and as he gently thrust inside, he leaned down to capture Inuyasha’s lips.

“Ah, my Yasha…my precious Mate…you’re mine, only mine…and I’ll never let you leave me again,” Sesshoumaru whispered against his lips as he then drove his tongue and his shaft deep at the same time.

Inuyasha kept his eyes wide open, beholding Sesshoumaru in all his glory as he felt himself impaled fully, yet so gently. The pleasure became too much to contain then, and his eyes closed against his will. He wrapped his arms around Sesshoumaru’s neck, and then allowed them to slide down to hold his body, pulling Sesshoumaru down closer to him.

“Sesshoumaru! Yes!” Inuyasha cried, tearing his mouth away, before he began to suck and nip at Sesshoumaru’s neck as his Mate continued to thrust inside him.

Their bodies moved in a slow celebration of life, and Inuyasha once again could not believe how sensual Sesshoumaru was. He brought his hips up to meet each tender but firm thrust into his body, and he finally sank his fangs into his mark on Sesshoumaru’s neck as he could hear Sesshoumaru breathing heavily above him.

“Yasha!” Sesshoumaru cried, loving the feel of Inuyasha’s fangs in his mark. Feeling his Little Mate lap gently at the blood over the sensitive flesh, Sesshoumaru could not help but increase the pace slightly, driving steadily into Inuyasha’s prostate. The friction and heat around his length was driving him to new heights of rapture, and Inuyasha’s cries and touches were only adding to his bliss.

“Yasha, my Yasha,” he purred as he caressed Inuyasha’s face gently, tracing his beautiful stripes.

Inuyasha cried out again at the sensation, and looked up into Sesshoumaru’s love-filled gaze just as he lowered his head to press their primary marks together.

As the Sun and Moon on their foreheads met, both cried out in surprised bliss.

All the feelings of love and family from before were there, but suddenly flooding them both was all the desire and passion from their mating: the true, unshakable love they held for each other. The same love that would not die, no matter what came between them…that bond that not even the Heavens could tear apart. Their eyes only millimeters apart, they could not turn away. Reflected in each other’s gaze, they saw their own soul, and each fell deeper under the spell of their Mate.

Sesshoumaru continued to move slowly, forcefully, loving Inuyasha for long hours, holding Inuyasha’s hands above his head, until the pleasure built to such a fever pitch that each arched backward. Inuyasha arched back into the pillows surrounding him, his hands reaching down and his claws scraping Sesshoumaru’s back, his hips driving up to meet him.

Sesshoumaru arched up, his shaft driving deeper and harder into his precious Mate. Then he laid his body back on top of Inuyasha’s so they were touching everywhere, and continued to move, harder and harder, but still just as slow, until he had Inuyasha screaming his pleasure.

It was too much…Sesshoumaru driving so deep inside him, the hard friction for his length trapped between their bodies…he couldn’t take much more.

“Sesshou! I’m so close! Ahhh…I want to feel you come inside me, feel your mouth on mine!” he cried.

“Yasha!” Sesshoumaru’s mouth descended and Inuyasha began to drown blissfully as Sesshoumaru kissed him deeply. He felt like he was being made love to in both places: Sesshoumaru’s tongue thrusting into his mouth and his shaft thrusting so deeply into his body. Inuyasha could feel Sesshoumaru’s movements become more frenzied, and as they both opened their eyes, they cried out into each other’s mouth as they came together in a blinding rush.

They drank down each other’s cries and heaving breaths, riding out the pleasure. Sesshoumaru’s hips continued thrusting for long minutes, and Inuyasha’s sensitive body relished it all.

“My Yasha…I’m real…you’re here with me…and you will never be away from my side again. We were meant to have our immortal lives together, and we will. I promise you,” Sesshoumaru whispered gently.

Inuyasha gazed up at Sesshoumaru with tears in his eyes. “I’ll hold you to that promise,” he smiled.

Sesshoumaru rolled over, bringing Inuyasha with him and staying buried in his Mate. “Sleep with me for a while, and then we can rise and begin the day. I do not want to overwhelm you, but there are things we must do. We must see our pups. Your return is a miracle, and the Lands of the West must be notified properly. We also must plan our Mating Ceremony,” Sesshoumaru grinned. “We’re having it very soon; I hope that is alright with you.”

“Gods, yes. I want our formal ceremony soon too. And our pups…I want to see them first, okay?” Inuyasha smiled.

“That was my plan already, love. Our pups will always come first,” he kissed Inuyasha softly and wrapped him tightly in his arms.

They slept wrapped around each other.

 

*****

 

“Mmmmmm…” Inuyasha moaned softly upon awakening a short time later. “Can we wake up this way every day for the rest of our lives?”

“Yes. I believe I could live with that…quite easily,” Sesshoumaru grinned. “Are you ready to get up?”

“I think of our pups, and I can say yes,” Inuyasha smiled softly.

They rose and bathed quickly; Sesshoumaru could see how excited Inuyasha was to see their pups, and did not want to make him wait any longer.

Once they had finished dressing, Sesshoumaru called for an afternoon meal to be brought to the room. He then called for Tsubasa and the other nurses to bring their pups to them.

As the nurses entered the room, Inuyasha sat on the bed where Sesshoumaru had asked him to wait. He could only stare longingly and lovingly as they walked towards him. Each nurse lay their charge gently on the bed in front of Inuyasha.

“That will be all for now, thank you. We will call you if we need anything further. For now, my Mate and I will care for them,” Sesshoumaru told them as he dismissed them.

He turned to see Inuyasha staring in awe at their pups. He had reached out a hand, but it was hovering over each of them, almost as if he was afraid they were a dream too.

Sesshoumaru walked over to join him and carefully sat on the bed beside him, putting an arm around his waist. “Yasha?” he said softly.

“Sesshou…they’re so beautiful. So perfect. I…I can’t believe they’re really mine. That they survived,” he trailed off quietly.

“Kitai explained to me how they survived. I understand they could not tell you anything about them, something about the rules of Heaven, so I wondered if they ever explained the same to you. Did they?” Sesshoumaru asked.

“No. They couldn’t say anything,” Inuyasha whispered.

“Would you like to know?”

Inuyasha looked up with a soft smile. “Yes, please. Tell me. I was pregnant less than a month. How are they all alive?”

“From what Kitai explained, you fed them all your strength and energy, even the energy that would have kept you alive. Then, when you were able to access your Youki, you gave them all of that too. Normally, a pregnant youkai feeds small amounts of their strength and youki over the four months of pregnancy. In your case, you gave them massive amounts over only a few days. Your spiritual power undoubtedly played a part as well in our pups' ability to absorb all you gave them so quickly and completely.

“They were only slightly premature when they were born. Kitai said they looked as though they were two weeks early. It is amazing what you did, Yasha. You gave up everything for our pups, even your life,” Sesshoumaru choked slightly with the emotion he was feeling, and Inuyasha looked up and touched his face. “How I have you back here with me, where you belong…this miracle…I have no words to express how thankful I am,” Sesshoumaru finished softly, overcome with the love he felt for Inuyasha and their family.

“Sesshou,” Inuyasha whispered as he kissed him softly. They nibbled on each other’s lips, and then turned back to their pups.

“Sesshou, I have names in mind already. Had you thought of any?” Inuyasha asked.

“No. I could not bear to name them without you. I could not even bring myself to think about it. Since being gifted with having you back, I have been focused only on you. I felt you could name them if you wished,” Sesshoumaru explained.

“Are you sure?” Inuyasha asked. “I mean, one is your heir to the Lands of the West. You’re sure you don’t want to name him?”

“Our heir to the Lands of the West, my love. And I’ll only suggest a name if I don’t like what you come up with,” Sesshoumaru smirked happily.

Inuyasha laughed. “Okay then….let me know what you think,” he began. “First, I want to name them for stars.”

“Why?” Sesshoumaru asked.

“Because of our marks. There are stars in my Sun…your Stars, and these are the pups you fathered…they were the Stars inside me. To me, you will be their Chichue; you are their ‘father’, since I carried them, right? So that’s how I thought of stars. I also got to see many stars while in Tenkai… Kitai took me through the skies, and I saw many of them up close. When he pointed out these particular stars, I knew right away they’d be perfect.”

“That sounds beautiful. What stars?”

Knowing instinctively which one was which, Inuyasha gently picked up their first-born. “This is our heir. He will be Daikenza, for the Giant Dog constellation,” Inuyasha said solemnly. “We can call him Kenza.”

“An excellent choice, my Mate,” Sesshoumaru smiled.

Inuyasha touched his forehead to Daikenza’s, and pressed their marks together. Then he lay him down gently, before picking up their daughter.

“Yasha, did you know that, as they were born and they removed Daikenza, this little one bit his tail, as if telling him to wait and let her go first?” Sesshoumaru told him with a large smile at her antics.

“Really?” Inuyasha smiled hugely.

“This is our precious daughter. She will be Koyashichi, named for the second brightest star in the Giant Dog constellation, and one of the brightest stars in the night sky,” he said. “We can call her Koyashi.”

“Perfect,” Sesshoumaru answered.

Again, Inuyasha pressed his forehead to his pup’s, showing her the love he felt. Gently, he lay Koyashichi down beside her brothers.

Inuyasha then picked up their last pup. This one, with ears just like his, Inuyasha pressed his forehead to his as well. “For him, I had to work at his name,” Inuyasha smiled. “I wanted to name him for Sirius, the Dog Star, and the brightest star in the sky. But the traditional name uses the kanji for ‘wolf’, and I wasn’t gonna use that,” Inuyasha winked at Sesshoumaru. “So I changed it a little. He will be called Tenkensei, which still means ‘Dog Star’, but uses the kanji for ‘Inu’ instead of ‘wolf’. We can call him Kensei,” Inuyasha finished.

Sesshoumaru smiled at his Mate. “Absolutely perfect Inuyasha. I could never have come up with better names for them.”

He then continued, “They are fed dragon’s milk by their nurses, and will soon start on solid meat. It is important though, that they have blood from their parents. I have given each of them my blood, and that would have been enough, with how much of yourself you gave to them so they could survive. But now, you should give them your blood as well,” Sesshoumaru explained.

“Yes, I want to, badly,” Inuyasha whispered.

He then picked up each pup, beginning with Kenza, and made a small cut over his heart with his claw. Holding the pup to his chest, Kenza immediately lapped at his father’s blood. As the wound sealed, Inuyasha held him tightly in his arms, crooning under his breath. As the pup fell asleep from the infusion of his parent’s blood, Inuyasha placed him back down on the bed.

He then repeated this with Koyashi, and then Kensei. Sesshoumaru watched quietly, filled with awe and wonder. ‘I love him so much. I cannot believe he is back with me. Back with us. I will never let him leave us again. We will have our immortal lives together… This I swear.  

‘My self-discipline tames his impulsiveness. His playful exuberance tempers my seriousness. His spontaneity and impertinence melts my obstinacy. My patience calms his restlessness. His sensitivity and gentleness has opened my heart. His light-hearted spirit has liberated even the darkest corners of my soul. In our own ways, we are intense, spirited individuals…bold and arrogant and defiant…and yet what an enigma it is that we meld together so beautifully.

‘We will rule these lands together. We will raise our children together, and watch proudly as they have their own children. And when we are older, and tired of ruling the Lands of the West, we will pass it on to our children, and live the rest of our lives wrapped up in each other alone,’ Sesshoumaru promised himself.

 

*****

 

As the pups fell asleep, they heard Rin and Shippo at the outer doors. Sesshoumaru rose and was opening the door just as they began to knock.

They followed him in quietly. Inuyasha saw them, and couldn’t believe how much they’d grown already. Rin was a beautiful young lady…a princess. Shippo…he now looked like a young, noble youkai. His body had undergone the maturation cycle that gave him human-like feet, as well as lengthened his tail, and he was dressed like a prince. Both about the same height, they made a cute picture, walking in so regally together.

Inuyasha moved off the bed and came to them, holding them tightly for a long time. Both children had absolutely no doubts as to Inuyasha’s love for them.

“You guys wanna sit on the bed too?” he asked with a smile.

Nodding happily, Rin and Shippo climbed onto the bed carefully, so as not to wake the sleeping pups. After watching them for a time, Sesshoumaru began to explain to them what he had been told by Kitai. How the pups were able to survive, despite Inuyasha only having been pregnant for such a short time. How and why Inuyasha died…and how and why he came back to life. They were able to ask questions and both Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha answered them all. They felt they should be the first to know it all, before any other people had this knowledge.

They were also the very first to know the pups’ names.

For the first time since the pups’ birth, they were all together as a family.

***

 

They were able to spend quiet family-time together, and they all marveled at the experience. Finally, Shippo suggested that Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha should have some time alone. Sesshoumaru, of course, could not object, and he gifted Shippo with a thankful smile.

Inuyasha, Rin, and Shippo rose, each with a pup in their arms, and followed Sesshoumaru to the room off of Sesshoumaru’s chambers that they were using for the pups. After placing them gently in their beds, and Inuyasha moving to each to press his mark to theirs once again and kiss each gently, they quietly left the room. Once the doors were closed, Inuyasha asked Sesshoumaru if he would tell them the story of the room.

Sesshoumaru grinned. “Chichue built this room for me so I could hide from my tutors,” he admitted with a smirk, causing the others to break out in laughter. “It is why you never noticed it before; it was well hidden behind tapestries and paneling. I thought it a perfect place for our pups…but once we move into the Mated Lord’s Chambers, there is a full nursery there that we will use.”

They all enjoyed the visual of a small Sesshoumaru hiding from his tutors, and the formal tutors running through the castle, calling for him.

After the laughter died down, Inuyasha asked Rin and Shippo to let Kohaku know that for today, and the next week, there would be no lessons; and to tell Misaki, Tomomi, and Reika when they returned with Miroku. They cheered the ‘vacation’ they suddenly were gifted with and went running from the room, excited to tell Kohaku.

“Well, I must say Little Mate, that was a very efficient way to clear the room,” Sesshoumaru smiled at Inuyasha.

“I thought so,” Inuyasha smiled predatorily as he took Sesshoumaru’s hand and led him into his own room, not wanting to disturb the pups. Sesshoumaru’s eyes widened as he was practically dragged from the room, and his thoughts turned fully to his delicious Mate.

As they walked into Inuyasha’s room, Sesshoumaru asked, “Inuyasha, is there something you wished to do? Do you need to rest?”

The doors to the bedroom closed behind them and Inuyasha turned fully to Sesshoumaru. “Yes, there is something I wish to do, and no way is it resting,” he growled low as he pressed Sesshoumaru back into the wall.

He began by devouring and dominating Sesshoumaru’s lips, causing the Youkai Lord to moan into Inuyasha’s mouth. Inuyasha swept his tongue deep, holding his face gently with his claws as he pressed his entire body into Sesshoumaru’s.

“Ahh… Yasha…” Sesshoumaru moaned as he pushed back with his body, Inuyasha’s actions causing a desperation to rise within him…a desperate need to be as close to Inuyasha as possible.

They pressed their bodies tightly together, and as Inuyasha devoured Sesshoumaru’s mouth, Sesshoumaru was running his hands up and down Inuyasha’s back, then moving lower to grasp his ass and pull him in to grind their arousals together even harder.

“Sesshou…” Inuyasha moaned as he tore his mouth away. He moved away slightly, and after licking softly at the stripes on his cheeks, he began to drag his lips, tongue, and fangs down Sesshoumaru’s neck.

“Gods, Yasha…yes…” Sesshoumaru growled, arching his neck back to give Inuyasha better access.

Inuyasha licked over his Mating Mark, causing Sesshoumaru’s legs to shake. Sinking his fangs deep caused Sesshoumaru’s legs to give out completely, and only Inuyasha’s arms stopped him from falling. Lapping at the blood and teasing the sensitive mark, Inuyasha’s hands moved lower.

Opening his kimono and juban, he dragged his hands over the sensitive skin before moving to pinch his nipples, making the Youkai Lord cry out with the sensations he was being overwhelmed with.

“Fuck, just a minute. Stay right where you are,” Inuyasha commanded.

Sesshoumaru looked at him questioningly as Inuyasha ran to the bed’s headboard, grabbed the oil there, and ran back. Smiling, he held up his prize as he dropped to his knees in front of his beautiful Mate.

He untied Sesshoumaru’s obi and let it fall to the floor. Slowly, he slipped Sesshoumaru’s hakama down his legs and off, throwing them behind him. He then lifted Sesshoumaru’s left leg and placed it over his shoulder as he teased the large shaft in front of him with his tongue.

“Fuck! Yasha!” Sesshoumaru cried out, feeling Inuyasha’s tongue dragging up his length. “Mmmm, I need your sweet mouth around me, Little Mate,” he moaned.

“You got it, beautiful,” Inuyasha growled before sucking hard on the head of Sesshoumaru’s shaft and letting it slide slowly into his mouth, continuing the suction all the way down. As Sesshoumaru cried out his pleasure, Inuyasha reached for the oil he’d set on the floor and liberally coated his fingers.

Sesshoumaru felt the oil-slick fingers dragging up to his entrance and moaned loudly, already ready to be taken. He had wanted Inuyasha this way badly, and was thrilled to finally be getting this without having to ask for it.

Inuyasha dragged his fangs up the length of Sesshoumaru’s shaft at the same time he plunged two fingers deep into his Mate.

Sesshoumaru’s hips thrust forward, forcing his cock further into Inuyasha’s throat and the boy’s fingers deeper into his passage. Inuyasha didn’t hesitate. He swallowed hard, and Sesshoumaru’s cries of bliss continued.

Preparing him quickly, he sucked until he felt the blood rushing under the thin skin of Sesshoumaru’s length. Pulling away he purred, “Don’t want you to come yet, beautiful. Only once I’m buried inside you do you get to do that.”

“Then get…inside me…” Sesshoumaru snarled, moving his leg from Inuyasha’s shoulder to his waist and trying to pull him up.

“Mmmm, be patient love…” Inuyasha purred in response as he loosened his own hakama. Standing, he hooked his arms under Sesshoumaru’s knees, pulling his legs up and off the floor as he rose. Sesshoumaru, startled, could only stare at Inuyasha’s wild gaze as he was exposed so quickly.

Keeping his knees over his elbows, Inuyasha moved quickly, pinning Sesshoumaru to the wall. “Ready love?” he asked with a smile.

“Yes! Do it Yasha!” Sesshoumaru growled.

Sesshoumaru felt the slick head of Inuyasha’s shaft rubbing his entrance, and he thrust his hips just enough, causing Inuyasha to slide in easily. Crying out together, they each leaned forward to take possession of each other’s lips.

Inuyasha dominated the kiss as he waited for Sesshoumaru to adjust. He knew Sesshoumaru was not so accustomed to being taken, and wanted to be sure he was ready. He felt Sesshoumaru about to break their kiss, and he knew why…to tell him to move. So rather than let that happen, he began to thrust hard up into his Mate, relishing the scream of rapture Sesshoumaru released into his mouth.

Inuyasha set a hard, fast pace, knowing exactly what Sesshoumaru needed right then. He pressed his body tight to Sesshoumaru’s, so he’d have all the friction from his body on his length. Sesshoumaru’s claws dug into his shoulders before he moved his hands to hold Inuyasha’s face, keeping his lips right where he wanted them.

Drinking down Inuyasha’s rough gasps and growls of pleasure, Sesshoumaru answered him with his own; his orgasm rushing at him faster than he’d thought possible. The friction on his length, Inuyasha’s large heavy cock pounding his pleasure spot and making him see stars in his vision…it was exactly what he’d needed.

Within minutes, Sesshoumaru tore his mouth away as he roared his completion. Inuyasha nipped and kissed his neck, and concentrated very hard on not coming just yet. There was much more he wanted to do with Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru rode out his orgasm as Inuyasha continued to thrust into him lightly…and he finally realized that Inuyasha hadn’t joined him in that bliss. “Yasha?” he questioned.

“I’m far from finished with you, Sesshou,” he grinned, showing his fangs and delighting Sesshoumaru with the dominant look.

Inuyasha let Sesshoumaru’s legs slide down around his waist, and he carried him over to the bed, where he climbed up on the blankets before laying Sesshoumaru down against the pillows.

“Ahhh! Yasha!” Sesshoumaru cried as he felt Inuyasha’s still hard shaft shifting inside of him.

Inuyasha ran his hands up and down Sesshoumaru’s sides, teasing his stripes as he thrust lightly into Sesshoumaru’s hypersensitive body. He leaned down to capture Sesshoumaru’s lips, and feeling his cries entering his mouth, Inuyasha grasped Sesshoumaru’s hands, and brought them up above his head.

Sesshoumaru relished the dominance Inuyasha gave him, surrendering completely.

Inuyasha, thinking of that day in Sesshoumaru’s office, decided to make love to Sesshoumaru…for as long as demonically possible.

Sesshoumaru was quickly overwhelmed. The slow, sensual way Inuyasha moved…the love he could feel in all his movements, in his kiss…he’d never imagined Inuyasha taking him this way.

“Mmmm…now Sesshou…remember that day in your office? Tell me how I feel inside you,” Inuyasha growled softly against Sesshoumaru’s lips.

“Gods, Yasha…” Sesshoumaru moaned.

“Or would you like me to start?” Inuyasha grinned, getting a nod from Sesshoumaru.

“You feel so tight around my cock…the heat of your body, the way your tight entrance pulls at the stripes at the base as I thrust so slowly inside you… the taste of your lips, the feel of your breath in my mouth, against my skin…just… Wow…” Inuyasha purred against Sesshoumaru’s sensitive ear before swiping his tongue in and around it.

“Inuyasha…ahhh…” Sesshoumaru whispered, totally caught up in all Inuyasha was making him feel.

“It’s so amazing, the feel of you inside me. Before you, I never dreamed of this feeling being possible,” Sesshoumaru began. “You…you’re moving so slowly, I can feel every inch of you, sliding so perfectly in and out of my body. The way the friction pulls at me as you move…especially when you barely pull all the way out of my body before thrusting back in…you’re hitting that spot so hard, and then the way it feels as you slide across it…” He gasped.

“I feel like I’m losing my sanity, Yasha,” Sesshoumaru admitted softly.

Inuyasha’s eyes widened at this confession from Sesshoumaru, and he moved one hand to his face to caress his cheek gently. “Gods, Sesshou…you make me feel the same way, each and every time. I can’t believe I’ve found this life with you…” He continued to move slowly and firmly within Sesshoumaru’s body as he spoke. “I… If my life before this was what I had to experience in order to be able to have this life with you now…I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d choose to go through it all again, as long as it meant I could still have you as my Mate, have our family, and have this love with you,” Inuyasha finished with tears in his eyes.

As Inuyasha spoke, Sesshoumaru’s eyes had softened even more, until he too had tears in his eyes by the time Inuyasha had finished. “Inuyasha, I’d trade my entire life before this if I could take away your pain from before…but even I could not choose to trade what we have now. I am so sorry, for everything…”

Inuyasha interrupted him. “No, Sesshou…no more. You should never feel sorry for anything from the past again, okay? You’ve given me so much love, so much happiness…my life before this, any pain I ever felt, was nothing when compared to this life we have now. Never apologize to me again, and never again allow yourself to feel sorry or guilty, please,” Inuyasha begged. He’d stopped moving as Sesshoumaru began to apologize, and Sesshoumaru hadn’t noticed at first. He’d been too caught up in Inuyasha’s words, and the feeling behind them.

But now… “Yasha, I promise I will never say that again, on one condition,” Sesshoumaru said softly, with a loving smile.

“Yeah?” Inuyasha asked.

“Move,” Sesshoumaru demanded.

Inuyasha’s eyes widened before he grinned hugely. “Mmmm, Sesshoumaru…..”

And he began to move again, driving Sesshoumaru to new heights of ecstasy as their bodies moved together passionately. Inuyasha took him hard but slow; Sesshoumaru arching into him with each thrust, until it became too much for them both.

With a harsh cry that Sesshoumaru swallowed down, Inuyasha began to speed up, his movements becoming more desperate and erratic with the feel of Sesshoumaru’s hot body moving under him; the feel of his tight passage gripping his shaft. Pulling Sesshoumaru up and over his lap, Inuyasha held him tightly as he thrust up into his Mate.

“Inu…Yasha!!!” Sesshoumaru screamed, loving this new position for the deeper penetration and harder thrusts against his pleasure spot. Then Inuyasha allowed Sesshoumaru to lean back slightly, so he could move one clawed hand down to take hold of Sesshoumaru’s impressive length.

“Ahhh…fuck! Yes!” Sesshoumaru cried, as he gripped Inuyasha’s biceps and punctured the skin with his claws. He allowed his entire body to go slack, giving up all control to Inuyasha as his Mate thrust up into his body savagely.

“Sesshoumaru! Come with me now! Now!” Inuyasha roared, before tightening his grip on Sesshoumaru’s shaft and twisting his hand, driving Sesshoumaru over the edge.

Sesshoumaru roared his completion; his voice joining Inuyasha’s to shake the room.

 

***

 

The sun was setting, casting a golden-red light into the room as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha awoke next.

“I hope the kids aren’t upset that we haven’t joined them yet,” Inuyasha said softly as he kissed Sesshoumaru.

He then grimaced in pain, which Sesshoumaru noticed instantly.

“Yasha? What is it? What is causing you pain?”

“Sorry, it’s just my spine and tailbone again. Fuck! It’ll be something I can deal with just fine, but a few times a day it’ll really hurt,” Inuyasha explained.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes widened. “If I didn’t know better, I would think your tail is trying to appear. I thought it would right after our mating, but it never did and I just assumed it wouldn’t. Yasha, let’s go see Masahiro before dinner. I wish him to examine you.”

Inuyasha gave a heavy sigh that more than told Sesshoumaru how he felt about having to see the healer…especially before eating. But he understood. “Fine…as long as he makes it quick.”

They washed and dressed quickly, Sesshoumaru practically dragging Inuyasha with him. Sesshoumaru called out as they entered Masahiro’s office.

“Hello My Lords! Lord Inuyasha! I am so happy to see you!” Masahiro exclaimed. His joy was evident on his face and Inuyasha couldn’t help but smile.

“Thanks. Sorry I took so long, but I’m just happy I finally made it back here,” Inuyasha replied with a wink at the healer.

“We are too, My Lord….we are too. I am excited to hear your story, but I will wait until it can be told to us all so you won’t have to repeat yourself,” he winked back. “Now, what can I do for My Lords this evening?”

“Masahiro, Inuyasha is saying he is feeling a pain similar to what I felt when my tail emerged. I expected it to do so after we mated, but it never did, so I can’t imagine that is what it is now. Can you examine him?” Sesshoumaru asked worriedly.

“Of course. Lord Inuyasha, if you would please lay face down, I won’t need to touch you. Just try to get comfortable,” Masahiro replied.

With only an annoyed “Keh,” Inuyasha did as asked and lay down.

Starting at his head, the healer allowed his hands to hover over Inuyasha, before moving them down to cover his hands. Finally, he began moving his hands over Inuyasha’s lower spine and tailbone; it only took moments before Masahiro was smiling up at Sesshoumaru.

“My Lord, your first instinct was correct. His tail is preparing to emerge. I find it odd as well, that it did not emerge before this. Unless….” The healer trailed off, deep in thought for a moment.

Sesshoumaru helped Inuyasha to stand, trying to keep his weight off his tailbone, and they both waited patiently.

“My Lords, I believe I understand,” he finally said. “Lord Inuyasha’s Youki combined with his spiritual power. This power created a womb and allowed him to get pregnant. So many things happened so quickly. I believe that without the pregnancy, his tail would have emerged as we had expected it to. Instead, it has had to wait until his body was no longer draining his youki for your pups. At least that is how it makes sense to me.”

Masahiro continued, “His power is so strong and obvious to me, and I am sure to you as well. Lord Sesshoumaru, I believe you should begin training our young Lord to take his true form. He should have nearly all the same youkai power you do, including the ability to form a cloud of ki. He will need to be instructed in this, and you are the perfect one to train him My Lord.”

“Really?” both Inu chimed in together.

“My Lord, have you not sensed yet? I can feel the ducts for the poison in his claws already forming as well, although it seems to be amazingly different from your own. If he is developing poison for his claws, his poison fangs cannot be far behind. He is getting his tail. You, Lord Inuyasha, are simply maturing into your true strength as a DaiYoukai. Once that rosary was removed, the effects have been startling. In fact, I believe you would have acquired much of these traits even without your mating,” Masahiro smiled at them both.

“I wish to do some physical tests soon, so I can understand how your poison will differ from Lord Sesshoumaru’s, but that can wait until after your Mating Ceremony. For now, take this,” he held out a few corked bottles of liquid which Inuyasha accepted. “This will lessen the pain of your tail emerging.”

Inuyasha looked to Sesshoumaru. “This is okay with you Sesshou? Really?”

Sesshoumaru smiled at Inuyasha. “Yes, Little Mate, it definitely is. I will give you more reasons later,” he winked at him. “For now, I have always seen and sensed your power. I am happy for you that you will be able to do these things as well.”

“Cool. ‘Cause I’m really happy about it. Mostly to know it’s my own power that’s doing it, and not only because of your youki from our mating. Not that I don’t love the part of you I gained, but it’s nice for me to know it would have happened anyway because I was strong enough. Ya’ know?” Inuyasha explained.

“Of course, Otouto. I understand perfectly. I am proud to have such a strong and powerful Mate. Although I already had that. Now it is only that your power is increasing,” he smiled.

“Thanks Masahiro! I’m starvin’, so we’re going to dinner now,” Inuyasha waved as he began to walk out of the office.

“Not so fast Little Mate. We’ll be talking to the castle staff now before dinner. Masahiro, please meet us in the family dining hall. There we will explain things a second time to our closest advisors and friends,” Sesshoumaru smirked at Inuyasha.

“Ah, right, I forgot. Yeah, okay, so we’ll see ya’ at dinner then,” Inuyasha smiled as he grabbed Sesshoumaru’s hand and pulled him out the door.

 

***

 

When they finally entered the family dining hall, after speaking to the main hall of servants, it was filled to overflowing. Extenders had even been placed in the table to accommodate all the servants who served in the family-wing of the castle.

As they entered, applause broke out.

Inuyasha blushed, but it continued until finally Sesshoumaru gave him a break and held up his hand for silence.

“Thank you for your welcome for my Mate. We will now explain what has happened, and why he is back. Afterward, we would both appreciate it if things could go back to normal,” Sesshoumaru’s voice boomed across the room.

All present smiled and nodded, excited to hear how one of their Lords could seemingly come back from the dead. They listened respectfully, and at the end, there were smiles all around.

Finally, Inuyasha could eat.

Sesshoumaru did not even try to hide his smile this time at seeing his Mate eating so happily.

 

***

 

After dinner, they made their way to their pups with Rin, Shippo and Kohaku.

“So, you guys happy about the break from your studies?” Inuyasha asked them with a smile.

“Hai!” the three chorused. Then they all wrapped their arms around Inuyasha’s waist, tightly.

Shippo spoke first, “We’re just so glad you’re back! I still can’t really believe it, like it’s some dream. We love you Tōsan. All of us do.”

“And Tōsan is so much more happy and alive when you are here,” Rin chimed in next. “Actually, the entire castle seems more alive and fun when you are here Tōchan.”

Inuyasha smiled down at the three of them. “I know you do. I love you all too. We’re finally all a family again, and I won’t let nothin’ change that ever again, okay? You guys go play, and then get to bed. Miroku, Sango and Rin’s friends will be here tomorrow, so it’s gonna be a busy day. ‘Kay?”

“Hai!” they shouted together again as they turned and ran back down the hallway.

“Yasha, your ability to clear the room of children is impressive,” Sesshoumaru smiled at him. “You are quite a natural Father.”

“Yeah, well, I love them…but I want them to be able to have fun together. I also want quiet time with you and our pups. Seemed the best way for that to happen,” Inuyasha grinned as they approached the door to Sesshoumaru’s room.

 

***

 

Seeing his pups was emotional each time for Inuyasha…he’d never thought to see them again. He went to Koyashi first, lifting her as Sesshoumaru watched happily.

“Hey Sesshou, are they getting markings? I didn’t see these before, right? Or did I miss something?” Inuyasha asked.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes had widened as Inuyasha began to speak, and he hurried over to the other pups to check them. “You are right Inuyasha. Their markings are just beginning to show on their skin…just barely. They are hard to see under their hair so far.”

“Well, maybe not so hard on Koyashi,” Inuyasha smirked, lifting her to show her face to Sesshoumaru. “See? You can see the markings on her cheeks through the hair if you part it, but it’s more the ones on her eyelids, ya’ know?”

“They are all so beautiful,” Sesshoumaru replied softly. “Their markings will fully appear when they are close to making their first transformation into their human-like forms. It seems that quite soon, within months, sanity will be in even shorter supply than it has been,” he finished with a smile.

“Gosh, I hadn’t thought about when they’d change. Shit…we’re really in trouble I think,” Inuyasha joked back.

Sesshoumaru took Koyashi from his arms to nuzzle her softly as Inuyasha approached Kensei, who was starting to wake up. He then realized Kenza had sensed his siblings and was waking up too, so he soon found himself with his arms full of his two male pups. Turning to Sesshoumaru, he started to speak, but was stopped instantly by the sight that greeted him.

Sesshoumaru was cuddling and nuzzling their daughter, rocking her back and forth in his arms, and amazingly, was humming a lullaby to her. Inuyasha realized he’d never seen a more beautiful or stirring sight than this one.

“Sesshou,” he whispered, stunned.

Sesshoumaru looked up, and was instantly flooded with the same feelings that Inuyasha was experiencing. Seeing his beautiful, strong Mate cradling their sons in his arms; and looking at him with such love so apparent on his face, he was stunned speechless.

“Yasha,” he whispered back just as reverently.

Still whispering, Inuyasha said, “Can we take them back to our room? Let them sleep with us? That’s okay, right?”

Sesshoumaru’s expression softened even further at this request. “Yes my love, we can. I’ve wanted you to rest, as you are still healing, but while they are sleeping they should not disturb you. I have been waiting for this, to be able to lay with you and our pups. Come, let’s take them to your room.”

 

***

 

As they fell asleep curled around each other, with their pups cuddled between their strong bodies, they kissed softly and pledged their love to each other with their eyes and lips alone.

Neither had ever experienced anything so profound.

 

***

 

When their pups woke them the next morning, they could only stare at them for a time, marveling at their beauty in the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows.

Then they picked them up and walked them back to Sesshoumaru’s room. After returning them to their nurses, the Lords of the West went back to sleep.

 

***

 

About an hour later, Sesshoumaru was awoken by a knock at the outer doors to the room. Slipping quietly from the bed where Inuyasha still lay sleeping, he put on his robe. Scenting the air, he knew it was Kaito.

Opening the door, he waved him into the sitting room. “Kaito, what is it?” he asked.

“I am so sorry to interrupt you My Lord, but you asked to be notified when Master Miroku and his party returned. They have been seen flying in this direction, and will arrive here at the Castle within the hour. I felt it would be better to notify you early, rather than as they arrived,” Kaito finished with a bow.

“You were correct. Thank you my friend. I will go wake up my Mate, so we can be ready for their arrival. Please take them to my private office once they arrive, and serve them refreshments there. Only say that there is a very important matter for me to discuss with them. They will only hear of Inuyasha’s return from me and my Mate,” Sesshoumaru finished.

“Yes, My Lord, it will be as you say. The Castle staff also knows this, and they have been sternly informed they are not to speak of his return until all have been told,” Kaito informed him. Then he continued, “My Lord, you also have your meeting with the Council this morning. Would it not be better to push that meeting back for a bit? It is nearly midmorning now, and I doubt you wish to rush your meeting with Lord Inuyasha’s friends. I can notify the Council that the meeting will be before the evening meal instead, if you wish.”

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment. “Yes, that is a good suggestion. Please make it so. Inuyasha and I will meet with the Council a short time before the evening meal. Thank you Kaito. We will also require you, Masahiro, Takeru and Shizuka in the Council meeting. I understand only you and Takeru are full Council members, but your presence should help to keep Inuyasha calm. I don’t need him killing them off, at least not yet,” Sesshoumaru smirked, causing Kaito to openly laugh in front of his Lord for the first time since they were young.

 Sesshoumaru gave him a friendly nod, before allowing him to leave and returning to the bedroom.

Walking up to the bed, his mind was catapulted back to Inuyasha’s first days here in the Castle, when he’d walked into this same room with so many hopes for their future together. Now, looking down on the same beautiful young man, only with stunning youkai markings now, still wrapped in the same crimson and purple silk sheets…he was speechless.

‘I cannot believe how much my life has changed, just since he came to live here. So much has happened that it nearly feels like a lifetime. I feel as if we have been together as Mates for centuries already, but no time with him could ever be long enough,’ Sesshoumaru thought to himself, watching Inuyasha breathe in his sleep.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently caressed the stripes on Inuyasha’s left cheek.

“Yasha? It’s time to wake up…your friends are nearing the castle, and we should be there to greet them and show them you are alive. Come on, wake up Little Mate,” Sesshoumaru crooned.

“Mmmm…” Inuyasha moaned softly; the feel of his sensitive stripes being stroked like that was very nice. “Ya’ know, you keep doing that, and I’m really not gonna want to get up. I already don’t wanna,” Inuyasha smiled.

“I do not want you to get up either,” Sesshoumaru grinned, showing his fangs. “I would much rather rejoin you in bed, but we must be there to greet your friends. Kaito informed me they are less than an hour away, so we must get bathed and dressed.”

“Yeah, okay,” Inuyasha groaned as he got up, giving Sesshoumaru a chance to enjoy looking at all of his Mate as he walked naked into the bathroom. “You comin’ with me?” Inuyasha asked over his shoulder, giving his hips a shake.

Sesshoumaru laughed, “Yes, I am, but you know we cannot do anything fun in the bath…we don’t have time. That will have to be saved for later.”

 

***

 

A short time later they had bathed and dressed. Both wearing black this time; Sesshoumaru’s kimono and hakama edged in silver, Inuyasha’s in gold. Both wearing their hair in high ponytails and looking every inch Lords of the West. They made their way to Sesshoumaru’s private office.

Kaito met them in the hallway.

“My Lords,” he bowed. “Master Miroku and Lady Sango are inside. Young Misaki, Tomomi, and Reika have been shown to their rooms to rest, and can be gathered together when you are finished here if you wish. Your children are not yet awake. I felt it would be best if you spoke to Master Miroku and Lady Sango alone first,” he explained.

“Yeah, you’re right…better to not have the kids in there for this at first. Miroku and Sango are gonna be pretty shocked,” Inuyasha agreed. “Thanks Kaito.”

Kaito then turned and pushed open the double doors, bowing as Sesshoumaru and then Inuyasha walked past him, before leaving the room and closing the doors behind him.

Miroku and Sango had risen to their feet to greet Sesshoumaru, not seeing Inuyasha behind him at first.

When Inuyasha stepped around Sesshoumaru, both Miroku and Sango cried out, and Sango fell to her knees.

“Inuyasha?!” they both cried in unison. “How?!”

Before either Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha could answer, Inuyasha was suddenly swamped with both Miroku and Sango throwing their arms around him, uncaring of protocol or any other formalities. All had tears in their eyes, and the hug lasted long minutes; while Sesshoumaru looked on happily, not minding at all.

 

*****

 

The excitement and happiness in the Castle was now so strong he could almost taste it, but Inuyasha was thinking of one thing: this meeting with the Council they were now headed to.

“They’re all gonna be against me, and we both know it. So why even bother with them? Or can’t you just go and tell them how it is?” Inuyasha complained as he walked to the meeting with Sesshoumaru beside him. “I’m happy, and I’d rather spend time with our children and my friends than deal with these assholes.”

“Yasha, there are Council members who adore you. Kaito and Takeru are members, and Masahiro and Shizuka will be there this time as well. All will be fine. We will give them a short explanation of what has happened, and notify them that our Mating Ceremony will be within a week, as soon as we can send out invitations. I promise, this will not take long,” Sesshoumaru tried to reassure him.

He knew why Inuyasha felt this way. His treatment at the hands of both youkai and humans before he came to the castle was a huge part of it.

“Fine. But I’m gonna hold you to that…that this won’t take long,” Inuyasha replied with a smirk as he partially drew Tetsusaiga to show Sesshoumaru he was serious.

Sesshoumaru chuckled. Partially drawing Bakusaiga he said, “Yes, I was thinking as you are Little Mate.”

A servant opened the doors to the ornate Council Chambers, and they strode in together. Their intimidating presence instantly silenced the room.

 

***

 

An hour later, Inuyasha was not happy. ‘Why are we still talking to these assholes?’ he wondered irritably.

Inuyasha was seated next to Sesshoumaru, of course. Masahiro, Kaito and Shizuka were seated to one side of Inuyasha. Takeru sat on Sesshoumaru’s other side.

Sesshoumaru was at the end of his patience. “If I ever hear the words ‘half-breed’ in this castle or in my presence again, I will kill whoever has said it. Yes, my Mate was hanyou, and he was beautiful and perfect as one. Now, however, as you can all plainly see, he is a DaiYoukai. Whatever human blood he had was absorbed by his demon blood as he has matured, along with the full power of his mother. We are finished here!”

“But My Lord,” Susumu, the Council member who oversaw the borders to the south said petulantly, “He was born a half-…a hanyou. You saying he’s changed makes no sense. And to willingly mate a half-breed?!?”

Before any could draw a breath, Sesshoumaru’s Whip of Light lashed out and severed Susumu’s head from his shoulders. Kaito and Takeru only smiled serenely.

“Are there any others in Council who wish to challenge me, or my Mate?” Sesshoumaru asked coldly. “If there are any, Lord Inuyasha would be pleased to meet you in an outer dojo. Bring a sharp sword.”

He waited a moment and when nothing further was said he continued coldly, “We alone hold these lands secure through our strength and judgment. This will not change. We will meet any who feel differently and they will either kneel or die.” Knowing their trusted advisors would know this was not meant for them, he finished, “Our Mating Ceremony will be held within the week, and we do not wish to see any of you there. Dismissed.”

 

***

 

Walking back to the family-wing of the Castle, Inuyasha could tell Sesshoumaru was still seething.

“So you meant it?” Inuyasha asked. “You’d have let me kill the next one? I almost wish there would have been another,” Inuyasha grinned as he took Sesshoumaru’s hand in his. “I probably would’a had to claw them to death though, only because the Kaze no Kizu would’a ruined that beautiful room.”

“It’s why I suggested an outer dojo,” Sesshoumaru smirked. “Then your Kaze no Kizu would have done damage only to the one building.” He had felt his anger waning as he walked next to Inuyasha, but his comments further diffused his ire. “And yes, Little Mate, I would have. It would have been most pleasurable for me. Perhaps I should make a list of those on the Council I detest the most, and the next time you may be the one to kill them? You should have your own poison claws very soon, and who knows what other delightful powers you will have.” Sesshoumaru was now smiling at his Mate.

“Shit, you weren’t kidding though. What a collection of complete assholes! Ugh! Do we really need ‘em?” Inuyasha continued.

“Yes, we do. Each has their own area of responsibility: a border to watch, being certain all in our lands have plenty to eat, intercepting and escorting allies who approach our lands looking for an audience. Better to have them do it then for us to have to. I want to spend my time with you, Little Mate,” Sesshoumaru’s smile turned predatory.

“Mmmmm… Wanna spar first? We never really got to before, so how about it?” Inuyasha asked.

“An excellent idea. Then we can bathe, and meet all of our miuchi for the evening meal. Yes, let’s go to the family dojo,” Sesshoumaru smiled as he practically dragged Inuyasha along with him.

 

***

 

When they finally reached the dining hall, they were pleased to see that all they wanted to dine with were still there and waiting to eat with them. Inuyasha was thrilled to see his children, Miroku, Sango, Rin’s friends and Kohaku; as well as Masahiro, Kaito, Takeru and Shizuka.

“This’ll be great. A nice dinner surrounded by everyone we want to be with,” Inuyasha said happily.

Sesshoumaru only smiled as he pulled out Inuyasha’s chair for him before taking his own seat.

Kenzo burst from the kitchens.

“My Lords! Good evening! I knew you had a busy day, and so I have prepared one of Lord Inuyasha’s buffets again. I trust that this will be appropriate for all here?” he asked.

“Yes Kenzo, that sounds wonderful. I believe we are all very hungry after this day,” Sesshoumaru smirked at Inuyasha as he spoke.

Inuyasha began eating right away. Surrounded by all the happy conversation and laughter, it finally hit him that he was truly home, for good.

 

***

 

The invitations for the Mating Ceremony went out the next day; all being delivered by trusted servants who would explain the letter from Sesshoumaru that accompanied each invitation.

They all reported back quickly that not one had said they would not be able to come.

“It seems this castle will be full to overflowing,” Sesshoumaru stated, showing Inuyasha the dispatches from these messengers.

“Hey! Looks like Kouga can come, and Totosai too. Wait, your Hahaue as well? And….are you serious?” Inuyasha was stunned. “You invited Shiori and her human mother? The young koumori-hanyou I helped and got the Akai-Tetsusaiga from? And the kids from Hōraijima? Cool! I can’t wait to see how they’ve been doing! How did you know?”

“Yasha,” Sesshoumaru smiled at him, “You have already seen how I have kept record of all your battles. Shiori’s grandfather Taigokumaru was a very powerful youkai and I was proud of you even back then. And had you not noticed? Your battles on Horai Island are being painted along with mine from that day.”

“It’s still hard to imagine, I guess. It still hits me pretty hard. I love you Sesshou.”

“As always, anything for you, Shinkon.”

 

***

 

The days before their Mating Ceremony were very busy.

Inuyasha met and began lessons with his spiritual trainer; a very powerful youkai from the continent. He offered to let Inuyasha call him Kouhei, the Japanese version of his name. There was mutual respect between the two from the start, and Inuyasha enjoyed their training time immensely.

 

***

 

Inuyasha also began learning from Kaito.

On the first day they met for lessons in how the Lands of the West were administered, Kaito asked, “My Lord, I do not want to insult you, but may I continue your lessons in reading and writing as well? I know your time is very valuable, and not having to go to yet another tutor would save time in your day.”

“Yeah, that’d be great. Math too?” Kaito smiled and nodded. “Cool then. At least I know I like learning from you. Another tutor would probably have to deal with Tetsusaiga all the time,” Inuyasha smirked and winked.

 

***

 

As much as he loved all the lessons, his absolute favorite was learning from Sesshoumaru.

His Mate was currently teaching him how to take his true Inu form, as well as how to fly and float on his own cloud of Ki. He was loving every minute of it.

He would readily admit that his favorite part of any day was when their pups would rampage through the Castle, trying to find their fathers. Once either Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha had been found, any lessons or duties stopped immediately. They would then run with their pups out to Inuyasha’s forest and play the rest of the day. It was not unusual for their noise to draw Rin, Shippo, Kohaku and Rin’s friends.

Spending the day with their children was the absolute best.

 

~tbc

 

*****

 

Japanese used in this story:

Inuyasha: (犬夜叉) (いぬやしゃ)  dog deity. 犬-dog + 夜叉- Yaksha (Buddhist guardian deities sometimes depicted as demonic warriors.)

Sesshoumaru: (殺生丸) (せっしょうまる), killing perfection; circle of destruction, perfect killing circle

Daikenza:  (大犬座) (だいけんざ) Canis Major  (The name of the western constellation in modern Chinese is 大犬座 (dà quǎn zuò), meaning "the giant dog constellation".) (nickname: Kenza (犬座: inu gathering/inu pedestal))

Tenkensei: (天犬星) (てんけんせい) Sirius, the Dog Star (The name in modern Chinese is 天狼星-in Japanese it’s Ten rō sei: the Dog Star; Sirius. BUT 狼 (rō) is ‘wolf,’ and I didn’t want to use that.) (nickname: Kensei (犬星: inu star))  Full name would translate to ‘Heavenly Dog Star,’ and it still represents Sirius. Sirius is also known colloquially as the "Dog Star", reflecting its prominence in its constellation, Canis Major (Greater Dog). The most commonly used proper name of this star comes from the Latin Sīrius, from the Ancient Greek Σείριος (Seirios, "glowing" or "scorcher"), although the Greek word itself may have been imported from elsewhere before the Archaic period, one authority suggesting a link with the Egyptian god Osiris.  In Chinese astronomy the star is known as the star of the "celestial wolf" (Chinese and Japanese: 天狼; ; Chinese romanization: Tiānláng; Japanese romanization: Tenrō; in the Mansion of Jǐng (井宿). The Cherokee paired Sirius with Antares as a dog-star guardian of either end of the "Path of Souls". The Pawnee of Nebraska had several associations; the Wolf (Skidi) tribe knew it as the "Wolf Star", while other branches knew it as the "Coyote Star". Further north, the Alaskan Inuit of the Bering Strait called it "Moon Dog".

Koyashichi: (弧矢七) (こやしち) (Ko-yashichi)  Epsilon Canis Majoris  (English: the Seventh Star of Bow and Arrow) is the second brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. (nickname: Koyashi (犬星: arch/bow arrow)) (It has the traditional name Adhara (sometimes spelled Adara). The name is from the Arabic word ‘aðāra’, "virgins".)

Tenkai: (天界) (てんかい)   heaven; the skies; celestial sphere

youki: (妖気) (ようき) from (妖) attractive, bewitching, calamity + (気) spirit, mind .  In this story, I am using this word for their ‘inner demon’, as well as their inner power. The other common way is: Youki, jaki, and shouki mean almost the same thing in Japanese: an evil aura, or feeling of unpleasantness. However, Takahashi makes the following distinctions in Inuyasha: Youki is the aura that youkai give off, flowing from their bodies like a river or wind. It can only be sensed by those with spiritual training, or a heightened sense of youkai-smell. Thus, Miroku and Inuyasha can sense youki while Kagome and Sango usually cannot. Inuyasha visualizes youki like flowing water when he uses his Kaze no Kizu attack. (http://hagakureproductions.tripod.com/demons.htm) (this is a great site for ALL things Inuyasha if you’re a writer).

youkai: 妖怪 (hiragana ようかい, romaji yōkai). supernatural being, demon, monster, ghost, phantom, strange apparition (a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore) (The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird.”)

Chichue: (父上) honorific form of ‘Father’. (父 (romaji chichi (ちち)): one's own father ) + (Ue (上) literally means "above", and denotes a high level of respect. While its use is no longer very common, it is still seen in constructions like chichi-ue (父上) and haha-ue (母上), reverent terms for "father" and "mother" respectively.)

Haha-ue: (母上) honorific form of ‘Mother’. (see above)

Rin: (りん) This word can mean ‘bell’, but is usually translated as ‘cold’. It can also mean: ‘dignified’ or ‘severe’. No idea what it was supposed to mean, or what, if any, kanji were used. I did find other kanji that are pronounced this way, most of which fit her better. With how Rumiko Takahashi puts so much into the meaning of the character names, I can’t imagine she didn’t do the same here. Here are a few that are pronounced this way: 林(grove, forest); 倫(ethics, companion); 琳(jewel, tinkling of jewelry); 麟(Chinese unicorn, genius, giraffe, bright, shining); 鈴(small bell, buzzer).

Shippo:  (七宝) (しっぽう, Shippō) meaning ‘1 of the 7 treasures’ (gold, silver, pearls, agate, crystal, coral, lapis lazuli) or “cloisonné”. orphaned young fox demon

Kohaku:  (琥珀) (こはく) male name meaning ‘Amber’.   Sango's younger brother. He is also a yōkai taijiya, like his sister and father, from the Village of Demon Slayers.

Misaki: (美咲) (みさき) female name meaning ‘beautiful blossom’ (美 - ‘mi’ - the beauty, beautiful; 咲 - ‘saki’ - the blossom)

Tomomi: (朋美) (ともみ)   female name meaning ‘beautiful friend’ (朋 – ‘tomo’ - the friend, the companion; 美 -  ‘mi’ - the beauty, beautiful)

Reika: (麗華) (れいか)  female name meaning ‘lovely flower’ (麗 – ‘rei’ - lovely, beautiful; 華 – ‘ka’ - the flower)

Miroku: (弥勒) (みろく) lit. ‘Maitorēya’) Monk (houshi), and Sango’s husband. (From Sanskrit मैत्रेय (Maitreya): A bodhisattva who is considered, in Buddhism, to be a future Buddha.)

Sango: (珊瑚) (さんご) female name meaning ‘Coral’. Yōkai Taijiya, Miroku’s wife.

Tsubasa: (翼) (つばさ) female name meaning ‘wing’

Masahiro: (正博) (まさひろ) male name meaning: 正,masa: correct, the justice, righteous; 博, hiro: Dr., to gamble, wide. Sesshoumaru’s personal physician.

Kaito: (海斗) (かいと) male name meaning: (海) the sea + (斗) the sake dipper, the Big Dipper. A Dragon Youkai and close friend of Sesshoumaru. Advisor and Council member.

Takeru: (武) (たける) male name meaning: (the) warrior; military. A Dragon Youkai and General of the Western Army under only Sesshoumaru. Friend of Sesshoumaru’s since childhood.

Shizuka: (静香)(しずか) female name meaning: (静)= quiet, calm; (香)= the fragrance, the aroma, the perfume. A Dragon Youkai and Rin’s teacher as well as spiritual trainer.

Kouhei: (康平) (こうへい) name meaning ‘calm peace’  (康) (こう) peaceful, happy, healthy; (平) (へい) flat, even, level, calm.  Kāngpíng in Chinese. Inuyasha’s new spiritual trainer. Dragon youkai from the continent.

Kitai: (期待) (きたい) ‘promise’ (hope, expectation, anticipation, promise, expectancy, prospect)

Totosai: (刀々斎) (とうとうちい) ‘Tōtōsai’.   an elderly blacksmith yōkai and an old friend of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru’s father. ((刀) (とう) (single-edged) sword, katana, dagger, knife, scalpel.; (々) repetition of kanji (sometimes voiced); (斎) (ちい) purification, Buddhist food, room, worship, avoid, alike.)

Kouga: (鋼牙) (こうが) Kōga. ‘Steel fang’  the young leader of the eastern Yōrōzoku (妖狼族, Yorozoku, ‘Wolf Demon Tribe’), which is nearly wiped out by Kagura and Naraku.

Shiori: (紫織) (しおり) ‘Purple Woven’.  a half-demon born from a human mother and a bat (蝙蝠) (Koumori) demon father.

Shizu: (紫津) (しず) ‘Purple Inquiring’.  Shiori's mother.

Taigokumaru: (大獄丸, たいごくまる, ‘Large Prison Circle’) was the leader of the demon bat clan, until he was killed by Inuyasha when he freed Shiori.

koumori: (蝙蝠) (こうもり) bat

hanyou: (半妖) literally translated as Half-Apparition) is a mix between a Human and a Yōkai.

Hōraijima: (蓬莱島) (ほうらいじま):  Horai ( 蓬莱)( ほうらい, horai) Island (島)(しま, shima) enchanted land of perpetual youth from Chinese mythology. The island in the fourth movie.

kimono: (着物) (きもの) is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" (ki "wear" and mono "thing"), has come to denote these full-length robes. Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes worn so that the hem falls to the ankle, with attached collars and long, wide sleeves. These were tucked into hakama, making for a great deal of fabric around the waist.

juban: (襦袢)(じゅばん) or ‘nagajuban’. An ‘under-kimono’ worn under a kimono or other clothing to protect the outer clothing from sweat or dirt from the body.

obi: (帯) (おび) sash, belt

Otouto: (弟) (おとうと, otōto) Brother; younger brother (弟さん (おとうとさん, otōtosan) is the polite form of this)

Tōsan: (父さん) (とうさん, tousan) casual version of: Otōsan: (お父さん) (おとうさん) father, dad (or papa; pa; pop; daddy; dada) (in this story, I use this as “father”)

Tōchan: (父ちゃん) (とうちゃん) (term of endearment) pop, dad (in this story, I use this as “dad”)

Hai:  (はい) (Common word, Interjection) 1: (Polite language) ‘yes’; 2: ‘OK’ (used to get attention prior to an utterance); ‘okay’. (*note: this can be used as yes OR no, it’s more of a casual acknowledgement of what someone else has said.)

miuchi: (身内) (みうち) “close family, close friends”

dojo: (道場) (どうじょう, doujou)  (hall used for martial arts training).

Susumu:  (進) (すすむ) Japanese male name meaning ‘advancement, progress’

Whip of Light: It is only in the anime. Sesshoumaru can generate a thin, whip-like strand of yellow-green energy from his fingertips that can slice through almost anything. The whip also displays characteristics of poison akin to the burning effect it has on contact. It is used often in combat not only as a weapon, but at a utility tool as well. The whip can extend great distances and retrieve people or objects in motion. It can also puncture armor and human flesh with intense energy similar to a projectile. (http://inuyasha.wikia.com/wiki/Sesshomaru)

Akai-Tetsusaiga: (紅鉄砕牙) (あか.いてつちいが)  the Red Tetsusaiga. (紅) (あか.い) crimson, deep red; (鉄砕牙) (てつちいが) lit. Iron-Smashing Fang .

Tetsusaiga: (鉄砕牙, (てつちいが) lit. ‘Iron-Smashing Fang’) (also known as the “Sword of Earth”)

Bakusaiga: (爆砕牙, (ばくちいが) lit. ‘Explosive Smashing Fang’) (Which is funny, since it was not forged from a fang, like the Tetsusaiga & Tenseiga, but came from Sesshoumaru’s body.)

Kaze no Kizu: The Wind Scar. (風の傷) (かぜのきず) English TV: ‘Wind Scar’; Literally meaning ‘Scar of the Wind.’)

Shinkon: (心魂)  (しんこん)  ‘heart and soul’

 

*****

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